[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Aug 27 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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2 Corinthians 12:10-19
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak,
then I am strong.
11 I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I
ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the
most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all
perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except
that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be
burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children
ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though
the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being
crafty, I caught you by cunning!
17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?
18 I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take
advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk
in the same steps?
19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak
before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your
edification.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4


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2 Corinthians 12:20-13:2  (Tuesday)
20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish,
and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there
be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;
21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I
shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of
the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.
1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two
or three witnesses every word shall be established."
2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second
time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before,
and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare-
Scripture Reading 2 of 4


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Mark 4:10-23
10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him
about the parable.
11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery
of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come
in parables,
12 so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may
hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be
forgiven them.' "
13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then
will you understand all the parables?
14 The sower sows the word.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When
they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was
sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they
hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.
Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake,
immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who
hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the
desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes
unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the
word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some
a hundred.
21 Also He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket
or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?
22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has
anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4


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Mark 4:24-34  (Tuesday)
24 Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same
measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more
will be given.
25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not
have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed
on the ground,
27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should
sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the
head, after that the full grain in the head.
29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle,
because the harvest has come.
30 Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with
what parable shall we picture it?
31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is
smaller than all the seeds on earth;
32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all
herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may
nest under its shade.
33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were
able to hear it.
34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were
alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Venerable Pimen the Great
Saint Pimen the Great was born about the year 340 in Egypt. He went to
one of the Egyptian monasteries with his two brothers, Anoub and
Paisius, and all three received monastic tonsure. The brothers were
such strict ascetics that when their mother came to the monastery to
see her children, they did not come out to her from their cells. The
mother stood there for a long time and wept. Then St Pimen said to her
through the closed door of the cell, "Do you wish to see us now, or in
the future life?" St Pimen promised that if she would endure the
sorrow of not seeing her children in this life, then surely she would
see them in the next. The mother was humbled and returned home.
Fame of St Pimen's deeds and virtues spread throughout the land. Once,
the governor of the district wanted to see him. St Pimen, shunning
fame, thought to himself, "If dignitaries start coming to me and show
me respect, then many other people will also start coming to me and
disturb my quiet, and I shall be deprived of the grace of humility,
which I have acquired only with the help of God." So he refused to see
the governor, asking him not to come.
For many of the monks, St Pimen was a spiritual guide and instructor.
They wrote down his answers to serve for the edification of others
besides themselves. A certain monk asked, "If I see my brother
sinning, should I conceal his fault?" The Elder answered, "If we
reproach the sins of brothers, then God will reproach our sins. If you
see a brother sinning, do not believe your eyes. Know that your own
sin is like a beam of wood, but the sin of your brother is like a
splinter (Mt. 7:3-5), and then you will not enter into distress or
temptation."
Another monk said to the saint, "I have sinned grievously and I want
to spend three years at repentance. Is that enough time?" The Elder
replied, "That is a long time." The monk continued to ask how long the
saint wished him to repent. Perhaps only a year? St Pimen said, "That
is a long time." The other brethren asked, "Should he repent for forty
days?" The Elder answered, "I think that if a man repents from the
depths of his heart and has a firm intention not to return to the sin,
then God will accept three days of repentance."
When asked how to get rid of persistent evil thoughts, the saint
replied, "This is like a man who has fire on his left side, and a
vessel full of water on his right side. If he starts burning from the
fire, he takes water from the vessel and extinguishes the fire. The
fire represents the evil thoughts placed in the heart of man by the
Enemy of our salvation, which can enkindle sinful desires within man
like a spark in a hut. The water is the force of prayer which impels a
man toward God."
St Pimen was strict in his fasting and sometimes would not partake of
food for a week or more. He advised others to eat every day, but
without eating their fill. Abba Pimen heard of a certain monk who went
for a week without eating, but had lost his temper. The saint lamented
that the monk was able to fast for an entire week, but was unable to
abstain from anger for even a single day.
To the question of whether it is better to speak or be silent, the
Elder said,"Whoever speaks on account of God, does well, and whoever
is silent on account of God, that one also does well."
He also said, "If man seems to be silent, but his heart condemns
others, then he is always speaking. There may be a man who talks all
day long, but he is actually silent, because he says nothing
unprofitable."
The saint said, "It is useful to observe three things: to fear God, to
pray often, and to do good for one's neighbor."
"Wickedness never eradicates wickedness. If someone does evil to you,
do good to them, and your goodness will conquer their wickedness."
Once, after St Pimen and his disciples arrived at the monastery of
Scetis, he learned that the Elder living there was annoyed at his
arrival and was also jealous of him, because monks were leaving the
Elder to see Abba Pimen.
In order to console the hermit, the saint went to him with his
brethren, taking food with them as a present. The Elder refused to
receive them, however. Then St Pimen said, "We shall not depart from
here until we are permitted to see the holy Elder." He remained
standing at the door of the cell in the heat. Seeing St Pimen's
humility and patience, the Elder received him graciously and said,
"Not only is what I have heard about you true, but I see that your
works are a hundred times greater."
He possessed such great humility that he often sighed and said, "I
shall be cast down to that place where Satan was cast down!"
Once, a monk from another country came to the saint to receive his
guidance. He began to speak about sublime matters difficult to grasp.
The saint turned away from him and was silent. They explained to the
bewildered monk that the saint did not like to speak of lofty matters.
Then the monk began to ask him about the struggle with passions of
soul. The saint turned to him with a joyful face, "Now you have spoken
well, and I will answer." For a long while he provided instruction on
how one ought to struggle with the passions and conquer them.
St Pimen died at age 110, about the year 450. Soon after his death, he
was acknowledged as a saint pleasing to God. He was called "the Great"
as a sign of his great humility, uprightness, ascetic struggles, and
self-denying service to God.
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Hieromartyr and Venerable Kuksha of the Kiev Near Caves
The Hieromartyr Kuksha and Saint Pimen the Faster died after the year
1114. St Simon, Bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal (May 10), in a letter to
St Polycarp, Archimandrite of the Caves (July 24), wrote of St Kuksha:
"How can I worthily proclaim the glory of those saintly men dwelling
in the holy Monastery of the Caves, in which pagans were baptized and
became monks, and Jews accepted the holy Faith? But I cannot keep
silent about the holy hieromartyr and Black-Robed Kuksha of this
monastery. Everyone knows that he cast out devils, baptized the
Vyatichi, caused it to rain, dried up a lake, performed many other
miracles, and after many torments was killed together with his
disciple Nikon."
The death of the hieromartyr Kuksha was revealed to St Pimen the
Faster. Standing in the church of the Monastery of the Caves, he
loudly exclaimed, "Our brother Kuksha was killed today for the
Gospel." After saying this, he also surrendered his soul to God.
The Vyatichi, among whom the hieromartyr Kuksha preached and died,
were pagans living along the River Oka, and they occupied the area of
the Orlov and Kaluga districts. St Nestor the Chronicler (October 27),
writing about the Vyatichi, was shocked by their brutal customs and he
added that they live "only for the present day," remaining
unacquainted with the Law of God, and making their own law instead.
The Hieromartyr Kuksha preached to the Vyatichi during the era of St
Theoctistus, Bishop of Chernigov (August 5). He was buried, as was St
Pimen the Faster, in the Near Caves. The Monks of the Near Caves are
commemorated on September 28.
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Venerable Pimen of the Kiev Near Caves
The Hieromartyr Kuksha and Saint Pimen the Faster died after the year
1114. St Simon, Bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal (May 10), in a letter to
St Polycarp, Archimandrite of the Caves (July 24), wrote of St Kuksha:
"How can I worthily proclaim the glory of those saintly men dwelling
in the holy Monastery of the Caves, in which pagans were baptized and
became monks, and Jews accepted the holy Faith? But I cannot keep
silent about the holy hieromartyr and Black-Robed Kuksha of this
monastery. Everyone knows that he cast out devils, baptized the
Vyatichi, caused it to rain, dried up a lake, performed many other
miracles, and after many torments was killed together with his
disciple Nikon."
The death of the hieromartyr Kuksha was revealed to St Pimen the
Faster. Standing in the church of the Monastery of the Caves, he
loudly exclaimed, "Our brother Kuksha was killed today for the
Gospel." After saying this, he also surrendered his soul to God.
The Vyatichi, among whom the hieromartyr Kuksha preached and died,
were pagans living along the River Oka, and they occupied the area of
the Orlov and Kaluga districts. St Nestor the Chronicler (October 27),
writing about the Vyatichi, was shocked by their brutal customs and he
added that they live "only for the present day," remaining
unacquainted with the Law of God, and making their own law instead.
The Hieromartyr Kuksha preached to the Vyatichi during the era of St
Theoctistus, Bishop of Chernigov (August 5). He was buried, as was St
Pimen the Faster, in the Near Caves. The Monks of the Near Caves are
commemorated on September 28.
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St Hosius the Confessor the Bishop of Cordova
Saint Hosius the Confessor was bishop for more than sixty years in the
city of Cordova (Spain) during the fourth century. The holy emperor St
Constantine the Great (306-337) deeply revered him and made him a
privy counsellor. The saint advised St Constantine to convene the
First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325, and he was the first to sign
the acts of this Council.
After the death of St Constantine the Great, St Hosius defended St
Athanasius of Alexandria (May 2) against the emperor Constantius
(337-361), an advocate of the Arian heresy. Because of this, they sent
him to prison in Sirmium.
St Hosius died in the year 359 after his return to Cordova.
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St Liberius the Pope of Rome
Saint Liberius the Confessor, Bishop of Rome, became Bishop of Rome in
the year 352, after the death of Pope Julius. St Liberius was a
fervent proponent of Orthodoxy against the Arian heresy and a defender
of St Athanasius of Alexandria (May 2). The emperor Constantius
(337-361) was inclined to side with the Arians, but was not able to
compel St Liberius to condemn St Athanasius. For such intransigence he
was sent off to prison in Beroea (Thrace), but was soon returned to
his see on the insistent petitions of the Roman people.
Before his return, they summoned St Liberius to the Semi-Arian Council
of Sirmium, where they forced him to sign the acts of the Council. St
Liberius deeply repented of this later, and labored much at Rome on
behalf of Orthodoxy. He died peacefully in the year 366.
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Venerable Pimen of Palestine
Saint Pimen of Palestine lived during the sixth century in a cave in
the Rouba desert. The holy Fathers Sophronius and John speak of him in
Chapter 167 of THE SPIRITUAL MEADOW (Limonarion).
Once, during winter the monk Agathonicus came to St Pimen for guidance
and remained to spend the night in an adjoining cave. In the morning,
he said that he had suffered much from the cold. St Pimen answered
that he had been uncovered, but did not feel the cold because a lion
came and lay beside him, warming him.
"But I know," added the ascetic "that I shall be devoured by wild
beasts, since when I lived in the world and herded sheep, my dogs
attacked a man and tore him apart. I could have saved him, but I did
not. It was later revealed to me that I would die a similar death." So
it came to pass: three years later, at the end of the sixth century,
St Pimen of Palestine was torn apart by wild beasts.
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Martyr Anthusa
No information available at this time.
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Venerable Sava of Benephali
No information available at this time.
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St Caesarius the Bishop of Arles
No information available at this time.
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St Osii the Bishop of Korduvisk
No information available at this time.
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St Phanourius
We know nothing for certain about the background of St Phanourius, nor
exactly when he lived. Tradition says that when the island of Rhodes
had been conquered by Moslems, the new ruler of the island wished to
rebuild the walls of the city, which had been damaged in previous
wars. Several ruined buildings were near the fortress, and stone from
these buildings was used to repair the walls at the end of the
fifteenth century, or the beginning of the sixteenth.
While working on the fortress, the Moslems uncovered the ruins of a
beautiful church. Several icons, most of them badly damaged, were
found on the floor. One icon, of St Phanourius, looked as if it had
been painted that very day. The local bishop, whose name was Nilus,
was called to see the icon. It said, "Saint Phanourius."
The saint is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right
hand. On the upper part of the cross is a lighted taper. Twelve scenes
from his life are shown around the border of the icon. These scenes
show him being questioned by an official, being beaten with stones by
soldiers, stretched out on the ground while soldiers whip him, then
having his sides raked with iron hooks. He is also shown locked up in
prison, standing before the official again, being burned with candles,
tied to a rack, thrown to the wild animals, and being crushed by a
large rock. The remaining scenes depict him standing before idols
holding burning coals in his hands, while a demon stands by lamenting
his defeat by the saint, and finally, the saint stands in the midst of
a fire with his arms raised in prayer.
These scenes clearly revealed that the saint was a martyr. Bishop
Nilus sent representatives to the Moslem ruler, asking that he be
permitted to restore the church. Permission was denied, so the bishop
went to Constantinople and there he obtained a decree allowing him to
rebuild the church.
At that time, there was no Orthodox bishop on the island of Crete.
Since Crete was under the control of Venice, there was a Latin bishop.
The Venetians refused to allow a successor to be consecrated when an
Orthodox bishop died, or for new priests to be ordained, hoping that
in time they would be able to convert the Orthodox population to
Catholicism. Those seeking ordination were obliged to go to the island
of Kythera.
It so happened that three young deacons had traveled from Crete to
Kythera to be ordained to the holy priesthood. On their way back, they
were captured at sea by Moslems who brought them to Rhodes to be sold
as slaves. Lamenting their fate, the three new priests wept day and
night.
While in Rhodes the priests heard of the miracles performed by the
holy Great Martyr Phanourius. They began to pray to him with tears,
asking to be freed from their captivity. Each of the three had been
sold to a different master, and so remained unaware of what the others
were doing.
By the mercy of God, each of the priests was allowed by his master to
pray at the restored church of St Phanourius. All three arrived at the
same time and prostrated themselves before the icon of the saint,
asking to be delivered from the hands of the Hagarenes (Moslems,
descendents of Hagar). Somewhat consoled, the priests left the church
and returned to their masters.
That night St Phanourius appeared to the three masters and ordered
them to set the priests free so that they could serve the Church, or
he would punish them. The Moslems ignored the saint's warning,
believing the vision to be the result of sorcery. The cruel masters
bound the priests with chains and treated them even worse than before.
Then St Phanourius went to the priests and freed them from their
shackles, promising that they would be freed the next day. Appearing
once more to the Moslems, the holy martyr told them severely, "If you
do not release your slaves by tomorrow, you shall witness the power of
God!"
The next morning, all the inhabitants of the homes where the priests
were held awoke to find themselves blind, paralyzed, and in great
pain. They considered what they were to do, and so decided to send for
the priests. When the three priests arrived, they asked them whether
they could heal them. The priests replied, "We will pray to God. May
His will be done!"
Once more St Phanourius appeared to the Hagarenes, ordering them to
send to the church a document granting the priests their freedom. He
told them that if they refused to do this, they would never recover
their sight or health. All three masters wrote letters releasing the
priests, and sent the documents to the church, where they were placed
before the icon of St Phanourius.
Before the messengers returned from the church, all those who had been
blind and paralyzed were healed. The priests joyfully returned to
Crete, carrying with them a copy of the icon of St Phanourius. Every
year they celebrated the Feast of St Phanourius with deep gratitude
for their miraculous deliverance.
The saint's name sounds similar to the Greek verb "phanerono," which
means "to reveal" or "to disclose." For this reason, people pray to St
Phanourius to help them find lost objects. When the object is
recovered, they bake a sweet bread and share it with the poor,
offering prayers for the salvation of saint's mother. Her name is not
known, but according to tradition, she was a sinful woman during her
life. St Phanourius has promised to help those who pray for his mother
in this way.
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